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An-72 that crashed in Kazakhstan was landing in icing conditions

Investigators examine the plane’s documents and fuel samples
Photo ITAR-TASS/Mediaholding Otyrar.kz
Photo ITAR-TASS/Mediaholding Otyrar.kz

ASTANA, December 29 (Itar-Tass) — An An-72 transport plane of Kazakhstan’s border service that crashed in the south of the Central Asian republic was landing in difficult weather conditions, the prosecutor-general’s office said on Friday.

All 27 people onboard, including seven crewmembers, were killed in the crash.

On December 25 the aviation meteorological service warned of icing conditions in the radius of 50 kilometers from the airport in Shymkent at the height from 300 to 7,600 meters, a spokesman for the prosecutor-general’s office, Nurdaulet Suindikov, said.

He added that flight data recorders will be deciphered soon.

Investigators examine the plane’s documents and fuel samples.

Experts completed forensic examination. Nine bodies were identified.

A group of specialists from Ukrspetsexport and Ukraine Repair Base are engaged in the investigation.

The plane crashed while approaching the city of Shymkent in southern Kazakhstan at 18:55 local time on Tuesday. Among crash victims were the director of Kazakhstan’s border service, Colonel Turganbek Stambekov, his wife Saule Stambekov, a group of officers from the border service’s central office and servicemen of the Ontustik (South) regional department.

The chairman of Kazakhstan’s national security committee, Nurtai Abykayev, said two versions of the crash – bad weather and human factor – are being considered.